Africa

August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) — Ali-al-Haj, the Secretary General of the Popular Congress Party ((PCP) said they are not consulted in the implementation of the national dialogue outcome, adding that many decisions are taken by the National Congress Party (NCP) without their knowledge.

The PCP is the main opposition party that supported the national dialogue process led by the ruling NCP after the withdrawal of several opposition parties that criticised the lack of freedoms in the country.

At the end of the process in October 2016, the participants endorsed the National Document which includes all the recommendations of the national dialogue in order to achieve peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

Also, they agreed that these resolutions should be implemented through the consensus as a group decision-making, in order to ensure the national interests and to meet the concerns of all the participants, particularly the NCP has the majority in the parliament and can vote reforms alone.

In a press conference held more than a hundred days after the formation of the National Consensus Government, al-Haj said his party "was counting on the consensus in the decision-making process to avoid that decisions be finalised by a specific party as it appeared now".

"Actually, there is no consensus. There are many things that we ignore. The criteria used to choose the government members were unilaterally decided by one party. We might be opposed to some but we accepted it. The appointment of the deputies to the prime minister we were not aware of it," he said.

Further, he slammed the bad treatment of the PCP's representatives in several regional parliaments including Khartoum State Legislative Council.

"If they think that the talk of one person is enough, this is not what we agreed upon, neither is it not the consensus or the dialogue," he further said to express their frustration.

The PCP, which is a splinter party of the ruling party since 1999, believe that patience and long-term policy can produce positive reforms and better than joining armed groups to seeking violent change in the fragile country.

However, since several months, several leading members of the party started to express their frustration and disappointment questioning their participation in the transitional government, as many of them were initially opposed to such political involvement.

Recently, PCP Secretary General Kamal Omer, slammed the speaker of the Sudanese parliament Ibrahim Omer describing his performance in the management of the National Assembly as "very bad".

Al-Haj apologised for the sharp criticism against the speaker, but at the same time said that the latter has not to "be biased" but fair and treat all the MPs on an equal basis.

"The (National) Assembly should not deal with us as defeated. We came to the dialogue with our heads held high, and we participated in the government with our heads held high," he said.

We reject any treatment on the basis that they have the (parliamentary) majority. If things are decided on the majority basis (our) participation has no meaning," he stressed.

Following an internal crisis in the NCP and the relief of the former First Vice President Ali Osman Taha who was known for his hostility for the PCP in 2013, many leaders in the PCP called to cooperate with the NCP in order to preserve the Islamic state in Sudan.

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August 27, 2017 (JUBA) - An American freelance journalist covering the civil war in South Sudan died on Saturday during a battle between rebels and government troops.

Christopher Allen (The War Zone Freelance Project)

Christopher Allen, 26, was killed in heavy fighting in the town of Kaya near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

At least 16 rebels, according to South Sudanese army (SPLA) officials, were also killed in the fighting, adding that the journalist's body was taken to the military hospital in the country's capital, Juba.

The U.S embassy in Juba confirmed Allen's death in a statement.

A 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Allen was reportedly involved with Sudan's rebel forces for the past week.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan since the conflict broke out in 2014, and over a million have fled across the border into Uganda because of the fighting within the border area.

Before working in South Sudan, Allen reportedly covered the war in Ukraine.

(ST)

August 26, 2017 (JUBA) – A member of South Sudan's armed opposition faction allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar has described as “unfair” charges labeled against James Gatdet Dak, the ex-spokesperson for the rebel leader who is now in jail.

James Gatdet Dak, Riek Machar's spokesperson 'Reuters photo)

Lam Kuei Lam said the court trial of Dak is a “null” judicial process.

“I would like to make it categorically clear to the people of South Sudan, the region and the international community that there is no justice to be delivered to James Gatdet Dak by that Juba Kangaroo court and therefore we condemn the process in the strongest terms possible as the primary indicators for his arrangement before the court shows circumvention of the rule of law,” he said on Saturday.

Dak was arrested from Nairobi and deported back to Juba last year.

Lam, however, said Dak's trail, in which he appeared without a lawyer, demonstrated the “decayed” judicial machinery meant to dispense injustice as opposed to core necessities of their existence.

The former rebel spokesperson, Lam told Sudan Tribune, was accused of treason, sabotage dishonesty, giving false information against the young nation and allegedly insulting the head of state.

According to rebel official, Dak's trial took place in Arabic dialect, and the presiding judge denied him access to a chosen translator.

“We call upon the national human rights institutions, the regional and international human rights bodies to ensure an expeditious court proceeding and provide him [Dak] with the necessary legal assistance and a lawyer of his choice,” said Lam.

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August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's negotiating team Saturday disclosed that informal contacts are underway with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu (SPLMN/al-Hilu).

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one in the Nuba Mountains led by al-Hilu and the other in the White Nile State led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of self-determination and other issues.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Saturday quoted the spokesperson of the government negotiating team Hussein Hamdi as saying contacts with al-Hilu would pave the road to resume talks after the Eid al-Adha vacation.

He pointed that al-Hilu has shown good faith by declaring a six-month unilateral ceasefire, describing the upcoming meeting of the African mediation with al-Hilu as “new shift” after the recent rift within the SPLM-N.

By the end of July, al-Hilu declared a unilateral six months cessation of hostilities starting from 31 July 2017 up to 31 Jan 2018.

For his part, Bushara Guma'a Aror, member of the government negotiating team, said the new reality indicates that the peace talks would be held with the “new leadership” (i.e. al-Hilu).

He pointed out that the “old leadership” (i.e. Agar) of the SPLM-N was not keen to end the suffering of the people in the Two Areas.

The head of the African Union office in Khartoum Mahmoud Kan said on Wednesday that an expert-level meeting with the SPLM-N al-Hilu will be held in Addis Ababa on 28 August.

The rebel delegation is expected to brief the AU mediation team about the shift in the group and to present its position on the peace process.

Last April, the Nuba Mountains Liberation Council (NMLC), which led the rift in the SPLM-N, said the group decided to freeze negotiations for peace in Sudan until the settlement of internal divisions.

The other SPLM-N faction led by Agar says ready for talks only on a humanitarian assistance agreement to provide civilians in the rebel held areas with the needed food and medicines.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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August 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Chinese government on Friday has announced debt relief for Sudan worth $160 million saying it would provide additional 500 million Yuan (about $75 million) in financial assistance to Khartoum.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, September 1, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Parker Song)

China's debt on Sudan is estimated at more $10 billion.

During a visit to Khartoum on Friday, the Chinese Vice-Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli and his accompanying delegation held bilateral talks with the Sudanese side headed by the First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih.

In his remarks before the meeting, Salih described cooperation between Khartoum and Beijing as “model” for bilateral relations, pointing to the strategic partnership agreement signed between the two countries in 2015.

He expressed appreciation for China's stances towards Sudan, vowing to promote the strategic partnership to serve the interests of the two peoples.

For his part, Gaoli expressed his appreciation for Sudan's efforts to strengthen economic partnership with his country, noting that the bilateral relations between Khartoum and Beijing have lasted more than 50 years.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has praised the political, economic and cultural ties between Sudan and China.

Speaking at a press conference following the joint meeting, Ghandour stressed Sudan's support for the unity of the Chinese territory, pointing to Beijing's support for Khartoum in regional and international forums.

He said the two sides agreed to form a higher committee to discuss the details of the economic relations, saying China is considered Sudan's major partner in the oil industry.

Sudan's top diplomat added the two sides signed a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering technical and economic cooperation, human resource development and training and the debt relief.

OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Meanwhile, Sudan's Minister of Oil and Gas Abdel-Rahman Osman has discussed with the Vice President of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Zhang Jianhua ways to promote joint cooperation on oil industry between the two countries.

According to the official news agency SUNA, Jianhua expressed a desire to promote joint cooperation, saying they are ready to provide a new plan to invest in blocks A4 and B2.

He added the CNPC is ready to resolve issues pertaining to debt arrears and the adverse impact of South Sudan's secession and the safety of Chinese workers.

Jianhua pointed out that his visit to Khartoum is the first visit to Africa, promising to visit Baleela oil field in western Sudan to inspect the oil production.

For his part, Osman praised join cooperation in oil and gas industry, saying China has invested more than $15 billion in the oil industry in Sudan.

He called on China to increase its oil investments in Sudan, vowing to remove all obstacles facing Chinese companies in this regard.

The Chinese oil giant began its business in Sudan in 1995.

Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after the southern part of the country became an independent nation in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of the Sudan's revenue and 90% of its exports.

Sudan currently produces 133,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). The country's production is stationed mainly in the Heglig area and its surroundings, as well as western Kordofan.

Following South Sudan's secession, several foreign companies started exploration in new oil fields.

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August 26, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir Saturday said it took him time to convince regional and international leaders that Riek Machar is not a man of peace and that he should be kept away.

The former South Sudanese First President has been forced to live away from the country in South Africa where he is currently after the bloody clashes in July 2016 between his troops and the South Sudanese army forces loyal to President Kiir.

President Kiir says the rebel leader should not be personally involved in any peace process and his group be represented by any representative he designates. for his part, Machar wants to be allowed to return to South Sudan and his groups participates in the implementation of 2015 peace agreement not the splinter faction led by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

In a speech to members of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of elders who visited him at his residence, Saturday Kiir said he told regional leaders and the international community he was not worried about threats being posed to his presidency by his rival Riek Machar. However, he added, they were sceptical when he rejected calls to associate him with the implementation process of the peace agreement.

“The region has now realised the truth in what we have been telling them and the international community that Riek is not a democrat because democrats would not advocate war. But they did not seem to get us at first. They thought I was being personal. It took them time to realize and now they are the ones talking to him to denounce violence but what did he do? He refused,” said president Kiir.

The South Sudanese leader said he declared a unilateral ceasefire last May not because of regional and international pressure but to demonstrate his commitment to peace despite the fact that he was aware that Machar would not reciprocate.

“I told them in several fora that declaring unilateral ceasefire is a not a problem. We can do it like I have done it several times but it did not work because one side ceasefire does not hold. And whenever we declare a ceasefire, Riek and his group (would) take it as an advantage. That was why our forces have to go to Pagak and take it so that we see where they will come again,” said Kiir.

He stressed that IGAD leaders who decided his confinement in South Africa would not respond positively to his request to return to eastern Africa countries.

"The region will not allow return him if he does not denounce violence, which he will not do," he said.

The delegation of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of elders visited President Kiir at his residence in Juba to extend him thanks and appreciations on behalf of the family members of former presidential aides released on bail by the high court.

Kiir who is accused by his detractors of ruling the country with the support of his ethnic group used the visit as an opportunity to call on the Dinka elders to work with elders from other communities to disseminate messages of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness, saying peaceful dialogue was the only way to end the conflict and restore economic situation in the country.

“You need to work together with elders from other communities. Reach out to elders in Yei, in Torit, Kajokeji, Mundri, Yambio and all other places so that together you talk peace, reconciliation, unity and forgiveness."

"Those waiting for Riek, let them know what they would get from Riek, the government will do now. Riek is not coming in any official capacity," he added.

"I held talks recently with elders from Lou Nuer and elders from Gajaak and Jikany, all of them pledged to work with the government and to support peace. You need to reach these elders and start working with them to disseminate the message of peace," he concluded.

(ST)

AUGUST 27, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations special envoy for South Sudan warned that the young nation could face more problems if issue affecting it are not tackled prior to next year's general polls.

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan (Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz)

"There is sporadic fighting and widespread insecurity across the country," Nicholas Haysom told the UN Security Council Thursday.

He added, "Our engagements with South Sudanese interlocutors, including the opposition, suggest that battlefield fortunes continue to inform the calculus of both the government and its opponents."

Early this month, South Sudan President Salva Kiir called upon the country's opposition groups to prepare for the country's general elections, earmarked to take place after the end of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) period in 2018.

To fast track processes leading to the polls, President Kiir in May officially declared his national dialogue initiative and declared unilateral cease-fire with rebels, albeit it has repeated been violated.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in South Sudan's conflict triggered by political differences between President Kiir, a Dinka, and his former deputy, Riek Machar.

Haysom, however, said President Kiir's reconciliation approach has not yielded any gains as fighting continue in various parts of the country.

“[The incidences of violence] may well contribute to deepening and extending the conflict," Haysom further told the 15-member Council.

Meanwhile, the Former Botswana President Festus Mogae, who heads the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) of the August 2015 peace agreement, told Security Council members that they must speak with one voice to the leaders of South Sudan.

"There should be clear consequences for intransigent groups, spoilers and violators," he observed.

On Thursday, Mogae said the second anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) passed with “little meaningful progress” made in the implementation of the accord inked in Addis Ababa in 2015.

“Our perception at the time of the signing of the Peace Agreement in August 2015 was that it had ended a tragic internal conflict that had threatened to tear Africa's youngest nation apart and it was hoped that disagreements amongst the parties over substantive issues had been resolved,” he remarked.

JMEC was established by terms decreed under Chapter Seven of the ARCSS, signed on 17 August 2015 in Ethiopia. Under the terms of the agreement, JMEC shall be responsible for monitoring, overseeing and supporting the implementation of the agreement and the mandate and tasks of the TGoNU, including adherence of the parties to agreed timelines and schedules; and in the event of non-compliance, shall recommend appropriate corrective action to the TGoNU.

JMEC is responsible for overseeing the work of CTSAMM (Ceasefire and Transitional Security Monitoring Mechanism), EFMA (Economic and Financial Management Authority), and other transitional institutions created by the Agreement.

According to Mogae, by now the 2015 peace accord should have achieved considerable progress towards improved security and governance in the war-torn East African nation.

(ST)

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